Bill to Obama: Call me

NEW YORK -- Former President Clinton said Thursday he is eager to campaign for Barack Obama whenever the Democrat needs him, but has not given any thought to whether he wants to speak at the party convention in Denver.

''I told him that whenever he wanted me to do it, I was ready, and so it's basically on their timetable,'' Clinton said. ''He's got a lot of things to do between now and the convention, of which this is simply one, so I'll do whatever I'm asked to do, whenever I can do it.''

Relations between Clinton and Obama have only just began to thaw since Obama defeated the former president's wife in the bruising Democratic primary that ended last month.

Since Obama clinched the nomination, it has remained an open question as to what role Clinton would play in the campaign.

AP